Sneak peek of Ginza Asian Bistro in Northwest Fresno

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A long-vacant restaurant space in Northwest Fresno finally has a new tenant. Ginza Asian Bistro is taking over where Roe closed back in December 2012. The new owners say they're excited to give the location a fresh start.

The Lin family is fired up about their newest restaurant. They're bringing many of their customers' favorites from their buffet-style restaurant Lin's Fusion on Blackstone Avenue to the brand-new Ginza Asian Bistro further north at Palm and Nees avenues.

Co-owner Ethan Lin showed Action News around the newly renovated space. The decor is urban and modern. Other than the sushi bar, very few remnants remain from the old nightclub, which had a troubled past, including incidents of violence that spilled into the parking lot. Roe closed nearly three years ago and has remained unoccupied since. Unlike its predecessor, Ginza has a wide open floorplan with plenty of natural light.

Restaurant manager Patricia Chavez says fellow tenants at the Park Place shopping center are welcoming Ginza. She said, "They are way excited for this place to be open. We're not gonna stay open late, so it's not gonna be a nightclub scene."

The bar area does have a trendy lounge feel and will offer daily happy hour specials.

"I haven't seen a restaurant like this yet, but I have been to a lot of Japanese restaurants but they haven't been like this," assistant manager Melinda Onsourathoum said.

While construction crews put the finishing touches on the interior, restaurant management is finalizing the menu and staff. Hiring starts this week for a soft opening planned for mid-September and a grand opening for October.